GR OU N

D
S U B SI D
E N CE
Section 7.2
What is ground subsidence?

Ground subsidence is the relative lowering of the earth’s

surface usually with respect to the mean sea level.
It can be result of any following: dissolution and collapse of
limestone, excessive groundwater withdrawal, mining, oil
and gases extraction, earthquakes, and change of season.
Causes of Ground subsidence
Carbonate dissolution and collapse

This is a common cause of subsidence especially in the

Philippines which has an abundance of limestone terrains due
to its geographic setting and excessive coastlines.
 underground voids, ranging from small caves to extensive cavern
networks, can be created in areas where limestones is the predominant
rock type. Limestone which is compose of the mineral calcite
( CaCO3) and possibly other carbonates and fossils, is easily dissolved
by even slightly acidic water. Acidic rain water in nature is formed by
the mixing of carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere.
When acidic rain water seeps into the ground, limestone is dissolved
little by little and creates voids. Acidic fluids could also be introduced
by leaking sewage systems or water supply and distribution networks
 C
l
i
c
k
The following simplified equation shows limestone is dissolve by carbonic
i
acid from the atmosphere. c
o
n
CaCO3 + H2 CO3 = CA2 + 2HCO3 ‾² t
o

a
d
The subsurface usually becomes weakened due to the creation of voids and d

reaches a point that it is no longer able to support the volume of rock on p

i
top of it. as a result, the ground surface either lowers slowly or collapse c
t
rapidly and swallows cars, houses, and other property. The depression u
r
formed is called a sinkhole. e
Excessive groundwater withdrawal

Is also a main cause of subsidence in the Philippines, particularly in

CAMANAVA area of metro manila and in a lot of highly populated
urban centers in developing countries worldwide. The pressure of the
fluid filling up voids in permeable sedimentary rocks supports the
overlying rock layers and the ground surface. But when fluids are
withdrawn in an area, for example, by deep well pumps for domestic and
industrial consumption at a rate that surpasses the rate of
replenishment,
The fluids pressure will not be maintained and will result in
compaction of the sedimentary rock layers and lowering of the
ground surface level. Subsidence in CAMANAVA is manifested by
perennial flooding.
Extraction of oil and natural gas

The withdrawal of these fluids is mainly anthropogenic but also be

caused by natural process such as by outflow through springs.
Earthquakes

Aside from the relative subsidence measured on the hanging wall of a

normal fault or the footwall of a thrust or reverse fault, another
situation in which ground subsidence may occur is during
liquefaction, which takes place in areas with fine-grained sediments
or areas that were reclaimed.
 CITY Maximum Area(km)² Cause
Subsidence (m)

Long beach/ Los Angeles 9.00 50 Petroleum withdrawal

San Joaquin Valley, CA 8.80 13,500 Ground water withdrawal
Mexico City 8.50 225 Filled lake
Tokyo, Japan 4.50 3,000 Coastal sediments
San Jose, CA 3.90 800 Bay sediments
Osaka, Japan 3.00 500 Coastal sediments
Houston, TX 2.70 12,100 Coastal sediments
Shanghai, China 2.63 121 Coastal sediments
Niigata, Japan 2.50 8,300 Coastal sediments
Nagoya, Japan 2.37 1,300 Coastal sediments
New Orleans, LA 2.00 175 River sediments
Taipei, China 1.90 130 Coastal sediments
Bangkok, Thailand 1.00 800 River sediments
Venice, Italy 0.22 150 Coastal sediments
London, England 0.30 295 River sediments
Underground mining methods

Sometimes intentionally cause the collapse of the surface in which

the appearance amount, and areal dimensions can be predicted. The
areas that subsides is usually only the ground surface directly about
the mined area. However, subsidence can also occur unexpectedly in
abandoned old portions of mines.
Isostatic rebound

The Earth’s crust which is floating on the asthenosphere, reacts to

the addition or removal of load on its surface. If a large mass is
removed, through weathering and erosion or melting of large ice
sheet glaciers, uplift takes place. on the other hand, areas which
receive large deposits of sediments like valleys and bodies of water
tend to become even lower in elevation because of isostatic
subsidence.
 Change of season

Has an effect on clays which are types of mineral that have absorptive
property. They can absorb water and expand by allowing water to occupy
(and leave) the space within heir sheets structures. During wet season,
clays in the soil tend to expand. But during dry season these shrink again.
This happen over area covered with significant amount of clay soil causes
the ground to expand and contract alternatingly.
Effects of ground subsidence
Due to its slow rate, subsidence may not have the terrifying effects of
the other natural disasters like volcanic eruption and earthquake but
it effects may last for a long period of time. Sudden ground collapse
events can be catastrophic but are usually isolated and very limited
in expanse. Slow subsidence can proceed almost unnoticeably but
may still cause serious, widespread damage to property.
Mitigating subsidence-related
hazards
It is hard to determine the exact time and location of a subsidence-related
disaster unless real-time subsidence monitoring system can be deployed
in areas in which are subsidence-prone.
A more pragmatic is to map out the areas which are subsidence-prone
and to either avoid development in the area or adapt by modifying or
strengthening structures. Areas which experiences subsidence are
prone to severe, extensive, and prolonged flooding so structures and
roads, for instance, could be elevated. Dikes and pumping or drainage
systems can also be constructed.